Computer enclosure with simple drive bracket

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

p-00021. Field of the Invention

p-0003The present invention relates to computer enclosures, and more particularly to a computer enclosure having a simple drive bracket for accommodating data storage devices, such as hard disk drives, floppy disk drives, CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read-Only Memory) drives, etc.

p-00042. General Background

p-0005A typical computer enclosure includes a base, a cover, and a front bezel secured to a front end of the base. The base includes a side plate, a top plate, a bottom plate, a rear plate, and a front plate. The top plate, the bottom plate, the rear plate, and the front plate are formed at adjacent edges of the side plate, thereby forming an opening. The cover is used to cover the opening, and facilitates preventing EMI (Electro Magnetic Interference) leaking from the computer enclosure.

p-0006Furthermore, a drive bracket is usually installed into the base adjacent to the front plate, and accommodates a plurality of data storage devices therein. The drive bracket is generally secured to the base with a plurality of screws or stakes, and usually includes a bottom wall, and a pair of sidewalls extending from the bottom wall. Another kind of drive bracket includes a first bracket body and a second bracket body. Both the first and second bracket bodies are used to accommodate different data storage devices. The second bracket body is usually secured to a bottom wall of the first bracket body, which is secured to the base.

p-0007However, the typical computer enclosure usually has a complicated structure, more particularly it has a drive bracket with a complicated structure, thereby increasing the manufacturing cost and the amount of manufacturing material thereof.

p-0008What is needed, therefore, is a computer enclosure having a simple structure, more particularly having a simple drive bracket which reduces the manufacturing cost and the amount of manufacturing material thereof.

SUMMARY

p-0009A computer enclosure includes a base, a retaining clip, and a support plate. The base includes a top plate, a bottom plate, and a side plate connecting with the top plate and the bottom plate. The retaining clip is secured to the side plate. The support plate is secured between the top plate and the bottom plate of the base, and spaced from and opposite to the retaining clip. The support plate together with the retaining clip can be adapted to receive at least one data storage device.

p-0010Other advantages and novel features will be drawn from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments with attached drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

p-0011<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is an exploded, isometric view of a computer enclosure in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the computer enclosure including a front bezel, a base having a retaining clip, and a support plate secured to the base;

p-0012<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is an enlarged, isometric view of the retaining clip of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>;

p-0013<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is an enlarged, isometric view of the support plate of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, and viewed from another aspect;

p-0014<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is an assembled view of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>;

p-0015<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is similar to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>, but viewed from another aspect; and

p-0016<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> is similar to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>, and showing a cover secured to the base.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

p-0017Referring to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1 and 6</figref>, an enclosure of an electronic device like a computer includes a base <b>10</b>, a support plate <b>20</b>, a front bezel <b>50</b>, and a cover <b>60</b>.

p-0018The base <b>10</b> is generally U-shaped, and includes a side plate <b>12</b>, a top plate <b>14</b>, a bottom plate <b>16</b>, and a rear plate <b>18</b>. The top plate <b>14</b> and the bottom plate <b>16</b> are perpendicularly bent from opposite edges of the side plate <b>12</b> in a same direction. The rear plate <b>18</b> is fixed at a rear end of the base <b>10</b> with fasteners <b>191</b>, such as screws, as shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>. A mounting flange <b>124</b> extends outwardly from a front edge of the side plate <b>12</b>, and defines a plurality of screw holes <b>125</b> therein. A plurality of posts <b>126</b> each having a screw hole is provided at an inner surface of the side plate <b>12</b>. A bent flange <b>142</b> and a positioning flange <b>144</b> extend downwardly from adjacent edges of the top plate <b>14</b>, respectively. The bent flange <b>142</b> defines a mounting hole <b>143</b> at an end thereof. The positioning flange <b>144</b> defines a plurality of positioning holes <b>145</b> therein. A concave portion <b>147</b> with a through hole defined therein is formed on the positioning flange <b>144</b> adjacent to a front end thereof. A plurality of spaced resilient fingers <b>149</b> is formed on the positioning flange <b>144</b> by stamping, for preventing EMI (Electro Magnetic Interference) leaking from the base <b>10</b>. A bent flange <b>162</b> and a positioning flange <b>164</b> extend upwardly from adjacent edges of the bottom plate <b>16</b>, respectively. The bent flange <b>162</b> defines a mounting hole <b>163</b> at an end thereof. The positioning flange <b>164</b> defines a plurality of positioning holes <b>165</b> therein. A plurality of spaced resilient fingers <b>169</b> is formed on the positioning flange <b>164</b> by stamping, for preventing EMI leaking from the base <b>10</b>. Two through holes (not visible) are defined in the bottom plate <b>16</b> adjacent to the positioning flange <b>164</b>. The rear plate <b>18</b> has a support flange <b>182</b> connecting with the positioning flanges <b>144</b>, <b>164</b> of the top plate <b>14</b> and the bottom plate <b>16</b>. A plurality of spaced resilient fingers <b>184</b> is formed on the support flange <b>182</b> by stamping, for preventing EMI leaking from the base <b>10</b>.

p-0019Referring particularly to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, a retaining clip <b>20</b> is secured to the inner surface of the side plate <b>12</b> of the base <b>10</b>, and includes a generally U-shaped main portion <b>22</b>, and a pair of support portions <b>24</b>. Two pairs of parallel securing clips <b>222</b> performing as a first retainer respectively protrude perpendicularly from the main portion <b>22</b>. A concave portion <b>224</b> having a through hole <b>226</b> is formed on the main portion <b>22</b> between the clips of each pair of securing clips <b>222</b>. The support portions <b>24</b> extend perpendicularly from opposite ends of the main portion <b>22</b> respectively, and each support portion <b>24</b> defines a cutout <b>242</b> therein.

p-0020Referring also to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, the support plate <b>40</b> is secured between the top plate <b>14</b> and the bottom plate <b>16</b>. A width of the support plate <b>40</b> is generally the same as the length of a hard disk drive or a floppy disk drive. A plurality of securing clips <b>41</b> and a pair of locating clips <b>42</b> performing as a second retainer respectively protrude perpendicularly from a top portion of the support plate <b>40</b>. The securing clips <b>41</b> correspond to the securing clips <b>222</b> of the support plate <b>20</b> for supporting CD-ROM drives. The locating clips <b>42</b> lie below the securing clips <b>41</b> for supporting the floppy disk drive. A length of each locating clip <b>42</b> is shorter than that of each securing clip <b>41</b>. A plurality of through holes <b>44</b> is defined in the support plate <b>40</b>. A convex portion <b>43</b> is formed at an end portion of the support plate <b>40</b>, corresponding to the convex portion <b>147</b> of the positioning flange <b>144</b> of the top plate <b>14</b>. A screw hole <b>432</b> is defined in the convex portion <b>43</b>. A plurality of mounting clips <b>45</b> extends outwardly from a sidewall of the support plate <b>40</b>. Each mounting clip <b>45</b> defines a screw hole <b>452</b> therein. A pair of screw holes <b>46</b> is defined in opposite end portions of the sidewall of the support plate <b>40</b>, corresponding to the mounting holes <b>143</b>, <b>163</b> of the bent flanges <b>142</b>, <b>162</b> of the bottom plate <b>14</b> and the top plate <b>16</b>. The support plate <b>40</b> further defines a pair of screw holes (not visible) in a bottom wall thereof, corresponding to the through holes of the bottom plate <b>16</b>.

p-0021Referring back to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, the front bezel <b>50</b> is made from EMI-proof material. A plurality of openings (not labeled) is defined in the front bezel <b>50</b> for the CD-ROM drives and the floppy disk drive inserting therethrough. Each of the openings is covered with a bezel cover <b>51</b>. The front bezel <b>50</b> includes a top wall <b>52</b> and a pair of sidewalls <b>54</b>. A plurality of through holes <b>542</b> is defined in the sidewalls <b>52</b>, corresponding to the screw holes <b>125</b> of the side plate <b>12</b> and the screw holes <b>452</b> of the support plate <b>40</b> respectively.

p-0022Referring also to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 4 and 5</figref>, in assembly, the retaining clip <b>20</b> is located on the inner surface of the side plate <b>12</b>, with the cutouts <b>242</b> engaging with two posts <b>126</b>, thereby aligning the through holes <b>226</b> of the concave portions <b>224</b> with the screw holes of the other two posts <b>126</b>. Two screws <b>30</b> are engaged in the screw holes of the post <b>126</b> through the through holes <b>226</b>, thereby securing the retaining clip <b>20</b> to the side plate <b>12</b>.

p-0023The support plate <b>40</b> is placed between the top plate <b>14</b> and the bottom plate <b>16</b>. The support plate <b>40</b> abuts against the positioning flanges <b>144</b>, <b>164</b>. The through hole of the concave portion <b>147</b> of the positioning flange <b>144</b> is aligned with the screw hole <b>432</b> of the concave portion <b>43</b>, and then a screw <b>194</b> is mounted therein. The screw holes <b>46</b> of the sidewall of the support plate <b>40</b> are aligned with the mounting holes <b>143</b>, <b>163</b> of the top plate <b>14</b> and the bottom plate <b>16</b>, and then two screws (not shown) are mounted therein. The screw holes of the bottom wall of the support plate <b>40</b> are aligned with the through holes of the bottom plate <b>16</b> respectively, and two screws <b>196</b> are mounted therein, as best shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>. The support plate <b>40</b> is thus secured to the base <b>10</b>, and an opening <b>19</b> is formed and surrounded by the base <b>10</b> and the support plate <b>40</b>, as shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>.

p-0024In assembly of the front bezel <b>50</b>, a plurality of screws <b>198</b> is engaged in the screw holes <b>452</b> of the mounting clip <b>45</b> of the support plate <b>40</b>, through the through holes <b>542</b> of the front bezel <b>50</b>. The front bezel <b>50</b> is thus mounted to the base <b>10</b>. Then a cover <b>60</b> is attached to the base <b>10</b> above the support plate <b>40</b>, through a plurality of hooks (not visible) locked into the positioning holes <b>145</b>, <b>165</b> of the top plate <b>14</b> and the bottom plate <b>16</b>. The cover <b>60</b> is mechanically and electrically in contact with the resilient fingers <b>149</b>, <b>169</b>, <b>184</b> of the top plate <b>14</b>, the bottom plate <b>16</b>, and the rear plate <b>18</b> respectively, thereby preventing EMI leaking from the base <b>10</b>.

p-0025In use, the cover <b>60</b> is disassembled from the base <b>10</b>. The bezel cover <b>51</b> is removed from the bezel <b>50</b>. Then the CD-ROM drive can be inserted through the opening of the bezel <b>50</b>, and positioned between the corresponding securing clips <b>222</b>, <b>41</b> of the retaining clip <b>20</b> and the support plate <b>40</b>. Two screws (not shown) are engaged in the CD-ROM drive, through the through opening <b>44</b> defined between the two securing clips <b>41</b> for stably fixing the CD-ROM drive. The installation of the floppy disk drive is similar to that of the CD-ROM drive, except that the floppy disk drive is supported on the locating clips <b>42</b> of the support plate <b>40</b> and the edge of the opening of the front bezel <b>50</b>. And a plurality of screws is engaged in the floppy disk drive through the through hole <b>44</b> below the locating clips <b>42</b>, thereby securing the floppy disk drive to the base <b>10</b>.

p-0026It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of preferred embodiments, together with details of the structures and functions of the preferred embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.